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BFD Expert Voices - Climate Deals

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Applied Carbon raised a $21.5 million Series A to build farm machines that turn crop waste into carbon-absorbing biochar.

Why it matters: The tractor-hitched trailers speed biochar production, making farm-based carbon removal more viable.

How it works: Applied Carbon, formerly known as Climate Robotics, developed a mobile pyrolyzer, which heats stalks and other farming leftovers until the material breaks down into biochar. 

The biochar is then deposited back onto the soil, boosting yields and reducing the need for fertilizer.

Zoom in: The company owns and operates the trailers as a service, charging farmers a per-acre fee.

"As carbon markets mature, and our production capacity increases, we will sell or lease our equipment," Applied Carbon tells Axios in an email.

The Houston-based company has also started selling carbon removal credits.

Driving the news: To.VC led the all-equity round, which closed in Q1. 

Congruent Ventures, Grantham Foundation, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, S2G Ventures, Overture.vc, Wireframe Ventures, Autodesk Foundation, Anglo American, Susquehanna International Group, US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Telus Pollinator Fund for Good, and Elemental Excelerator participated in the round.

Congruent Ventures managing partner Josh Posamentier and To.VC managing partner Joshua Phitoussi joined the company's board.

What's next: Applied Carbon plans to build about 30 of its trailers over the next year. Each measures about the size of two shipping containers. 

Applied Carbon raises $21.5M for towable carbon-removal

The startup's trailer hitches to a farm tractor.

A long black Applied Carbon trailer sits hitched to a green farm tractor.

Applied Carbon's trailers are hauled around by tractors. Photo: Courtesy of Applied Carbon

Farming

Applied Carbon raised a $21.5 million Series A to build farm machines that turn crop waste into carbon-absorbing biochar.Why it matters: The tractor-hitched trailers speed biochar production, making farm-based carbon removal more viable.

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Applied Carbon raises $21.5M for towable carbon-removal

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